Window guide



J. H. ROETHEL WINDOW GUIDE July 10, 1945.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1943 July 10, 1945. J. H. ROETHEL 2,379,927

WINDOW GUIDE Filed March 25, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A'ITORNEK Jul 10, 1945. H, R ETHEL 2,379,927

WINDOW GUIDE Filed March 25, 1945 's Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR ATTO NE Y6.

Patented-Ink 10, 1945 wmnowonmn V Boothe], Detroit, mmqs-imr a TY Q FICE.

Marvel Equipment Corporation, Detroit, men. a

, a corporation of Mi Application March 25, 1943.8erlal No. 480,493 i 'Claims. (01. 296-48) This invention relates to means for guiding and controlling glass or transparent panels of windows, particularly windows of automobiles, in which the transparent panels or panes are adapted to be raised and lowered. The invention is especially useful as applied to the window structure for a vehicle body having a window frame provided with a window well formed between inner and outer body or door panels within which the guiding mechanism of the present invention' as well as the window. regulator mechanism are installed and concealed from view. a

An object of the invention is to provide improved guide mechanism within thewindow well for the window glass, which mechanism includes devices, such as rollers or shoes, mounted on the bottom of the glass and movably cooperable with fixed upright guides for holding the glass within the well and operating to resist displacement of the glass in directions transverse to the path of movement of the glass when raised and lowered. One important feature of the invention resides in the provision of guide devices, such as rollers or shoes, at the opposite ends of the bottom of the sliding glass or window panel which are, constructed and arranged to cooperate at all times and under all conditions with the fixed upright guides within the well whereby inaccuracies in production and in the installation of the guides. are readily accommodated, any danger of the guide devices becoming disconnected from the guide is precluded, and at the same time undue frictional resistance to the travel of the window panel is reduced to a minimum.

guide means for the vertically slidable closure panel rendering it possible to reduce the effort required to effect sliding movement of the panel to a minimum and having provision for insuring and #430,327pfiled February 11, 1942. Further wherein yieldable means is rovided for normally urging the shoes or guide devices into frictional engagement with said guides. As a result of this construction, manufacturing inaccuracies and irregularities in the guides are automatically compensated for and binding of the parts during movement of the closure panel is eliminated.

This application is acontinuation in part of my copending applications #231,618, filed September 26, 1938; #373,531, filed January 8, 1941 details are found in application #175,780 filed November 22, 1937, now 0'. S. Patent #2336349 dated March 25, 1941, and application #216,534 filed June '29, 1938, now U. 8. Patent #2,236,450, dated March 25, 1941, and also abandoned applications #261,448 filed March 13, 19,38 and #275,957, filed May 26, 1939.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part 01' this specification wherein like reference characters designate ing parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is an inner-fragmentary side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of an automobile door, such as a front door, embodying correspondthe invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the front guiding means for the sliding glass or window panel.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially through lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig; 4 is an enlarged sectional view takensubstantially throughlines l4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 4 illustrating a modified form of guiding means free sliding movement of the closure throughout for the window panel.

its path of travel regardless of slight manufacturing inaccuracies or irregularities that may be present inthe guides. l t t Another object of this invention resides in the adjacent opposite vertical edges of. the closure and having shoes or devices carried by the closure in positions to movably engage the guides throughout the path of travel of the closure.

A further object. oi. this invention residesin the provisionof guide means of the type set forth above wherein theshoes or guide devices are mounted on the closure panel for sliding move- Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the inside" of an automobile front door,"partly broken away, illustrating a further embodiment of the invention. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of one of the provision of guide meansv having a pair, of verguide devices for the window panel. tically extendin guides respectively supported Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially through lines of Fig." 7 looking in thedirection of the ow J 1 Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially through 50, lines 9 of Fig. 7 looldn'g inthe direction of v the arrows. r, r

Fi .,10 is a side elevation pfthe inside of an automobile front door, partly broken away. illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

ment toward andaway from the guides and f Fig. 11. isanf enlarged fragmentarysection taken substantially throughlines l|--ll 01' Fig. '10 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view 01' one of the guide devices for the window panel.

Figs. 13 and 14 are fragmentary transverse sections illustrating further embodiments.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated an automobile door A which may be a front door having a window frame I including a front sloping pillar and a. rear upright pillar, said pillars merging into an upper header to provide a window frame of which the upper portion is in the form of a closed figure defining a is adapted to be closed by means'of a vertically slidable glass or other transparent panel l2 and medium of a flxed channel member 26 secured through a bracket 21 to the inner door panel 24. This channel preferably has a felt or similarly lined insert engageable with the opposite side faces of the bar IS. A- semi-spherical guide 2 bumper 28 is'fastened within the upper end of window opening. This main window a laterally swinging glass or other transparent panel II. The latter panel is of the so-called wing type disposed at the forward part of the window opening and the panels II and i2 are preferably arranged so that when in fully closed positions they extend in the same or in substantially parallel planes and cooperate together to close the main window opening. The wing type panel Il may be pivoted at points Ha so as to swing laterally about an up and down axis. Secured to the forward upright edge of the panel I2 is a channel bar l3 which at its inner side has a projecting lip or overlap flang l3a against which the rear edge of the wing seats when the window is fully closed.

The bar l3 has an extension l3b projecting into the window well below the lower margin window opening, this extension being secured as by means of screws to the forward end of a pressed metal bracket it, this bracket being secured as by spot welding to the bottom forward ed e of a channel bar or glass retainer member l5 which embraces the lower edge of the glass panel 12.

Any suitable window regulator may be utilized for raising and lowering the panel l2 and in the present instance, by way of example, there is shown a regulator comprising a intersecting arms l6 and I1 carrying studs at their outer ends adapted to be connected, respectively, within a horizontal slot l8 in the bracket i4 and a horizontal slot in a bracket [9 secured to the bottom of the member 15. In the illustrated regulator the arm i6 is driven through the medium of a'swinging arm secured to a gear segment 2! rotatable upon a mounting plate 22. The gear 2| is driven by a pinion on a handle shaft 23, the latter embodying the usual friction clutch for holding the window glass in adjusted position. The lower end of the cross arm I1 is pivoted at l'la to the inner pressed metal door panel 24 and the lower end of the cross arm I has a stud iGa slidably connected in a guide slot 25 in the panel 24. It will be understood that the illustrated regulator is but optional and may be replaced by any suitable swinging arm or power driven regulator to suit requirements.

The channel bar It, which moves downwardly into the window well in conjunction with the panel I2, is guided within the well through the pair of crossed of the the channel 26 and P sitionedto, engage the channel bar II. This bumper guide 28 is preferably formed of non-metallic material such as rubber composition.

Mounted within the window well adjacent op- I posite ends of the panel i2 are a pair of fixed upright parallel guides 29. Each of these guides inthe present embodiment is in the form of a guide channel having parallel side flanges 29a extending inwardly into the window well, the edges of these flanges being folded back and providing parallel tracks or rails. The forwardbottom end of the bracket II has a horizontal flange portion Ila, and to the bottom of this flange is secured, as by spot welding, the central web or an inverted channel bracket 30 having downturned parallel side flanges 30a. These side flanges are provided with parallel horizontal slots 3i which are open at their ends more remote from the adjacent channel guide 29. The bracket 30 carries a roller element or shoe which in the present instance is formed from'a single piece of metal stock. Each roller device comprises a pair of laterally spaced annular roller portions 32 engageable with the edges 29!) of the channel guide. Adjacent each roller portion 32 is an annular flange which projects into the channel guide adjacent the inner faces of the flanges 29a. The roller portions 32 are integrally connected by a shaft portion 34 which is turned down centrally at 35 to a relatively narrow diameter, the annular parts of the shaft at opposite sides of the constricted portion 35 being of sufflcient diameter to overlap the edges of the slots 3|. The constricted portion 35 of the shaft is engaged by one end of a tension spring 36 which'may comprise a length of spring wire having one or more intermediate coils, the opposite end of the spring being hooked through an aperture in one of the flanges 30d of the bracket 30.

It will be seen that the forward ends of the flanges 30a of the bracket 30 are adapted to project into the channel guide 29 so that as the roller device 32 is forced rearwardly against the action of the spring 36 by engagement with thetrack portions of the channel guide, the forward end of the bracket 30 is capable of moving longitudinally within the channel guide. The extent to which the roller may be retracted against the action of the spring may be controlled by the engagement of the bracket 30 with-the base of the channel 29. Thus, the roller device 32 is guided longitudinally by the shaft 34 sliding within the slots 3| and the frictional resistance to the rotation of the roller is minimized by engagement of the end of the spring 36 with the constricted annular portion 34 of the shaft.

It will be understood that the opposite end of the window panel l2 of Fig. 1 is guided in similar manner within the window well through the medium of a similar roller guide device, including a channel bracket 30 secured to the bottom of the member l5 and carrying a roller element 32 and resistance spring 36, the roller element travelling in similar manner upon the rear channel guide at V InFig.'5 there is illustrated a roller guide structure which may be substituted for the guide structure of the previous embodiments. In this swam central cylindricali'ace 68a of the roller thus exera It and 54 maybe integral flanges on the roller II. The shaft I slides back and forth longitudinally and horizontally in the slots II of the bracket flanges Ila as in the case of the embodiment of Fig, 4 and the spring ll engagesthe constricted portion '35 of the shaft in similar manner as in Fig. 4. The shaft is guided in the slots lly as in Fig. 4; by the intermediate larger diameter portions of the shaft overlapping the inner edges of the slots andwashers on the sh'aft overlapp the outer edges of the slots. as shown. the end of the shaft remote from the roller terminating in a head 56. I

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the vertically slidable glass or other transparent panel I 2 is guided at its forward upright edge 12a within the window opening by means of a metal channel bar I40 which is fixed at its upper and lower ends to the window frame and has a channelway at its rear edge to slidably receive the edge I2a ofpanel It. The window panel I3 is shifted vertically by means of a suitable window regulator, designated as a whole at 51, having a swinging arm 58 provided at its outer end with a stud 59 slidable within a horizontal guide slot or guideway 50 in a bracket 6| secured to the bottom of the channel member I5 intermediate the ends of the latter. The bracket 6| carries a pair of vertically spaced guide studs 62 adapted to travel in a vertical guide slot or guideway of a vertically extending guide 62a mounted in fixed position within the window well. The foregoing construction is more fully illustrated and described in my copending application Ser. No. 231,618.

As illustrated in the present embodiment the window panel I! is-also guided within the window well at opposite ends thereof independently of the opposite upright or vertical edges of the glass itself. Guide devices, generally indicated at 63, are mounted upon the bottom of the glass retainer channel I5 at opposite ends of the glass. Each guide device 63 in the presentinstance comprises a U-shapedbracket 64 spot welded to the bottom of the channel at each end thereof, each bracket having depending legs 64a and 64b provided with aligned apertures slidingly receiving a roller supporting member'65. The member 65 may be in the form of a metal strip bent upon itself to provide a shank slidingly extending through the apertures in the parts 64a and 64b. The ends 65a of the strip 65 are spread to receive therebetween a roller 66 rotatable upon a 'pinextending through the forked'ends 65a and riveted thereto. A compression spring 61 is mounted upon the shank 65 between the leg'lilb of thebracket and a retainer piece 12 held on the shank'by a pin ll. Metal strips 68 may be riveted to opposite sides of the dium of angle brackets 10 upon an inner door or body panel, Each channel guide 89 has flared parallel transversely curved edges 8| i-iormingl the oppositely tapered, trans:

tracks enga ing; versely curved sidei'aces 58b of, the roller. The

tends a short distance into theichannel 69 and by virtueof thisconstruction, as shown in Fig. 8,- the cooperation :of. the rollerextension 66a with the side flangestoi the channel guide 89 prevents angular or lateral displacement ofthe window.

glass l2 and causes theportions lib to trackat all times on thetapered tracks SI of the guides. position of the channel guides 69 is such that when the glass I2 is installed and the rollers I move down through the ,upper open ends of the channel; the roller will be pressed in toward each other, thereby placing the springs 61 under compression. the. window glass I! will be spring suspended within the window well through the medium of the devices the channel guides 69. v

It will seen from the foregoing embodiment that the opposite upright or vertical edges of the window panel l2 are adapted to travel downwardly through the channelways formed by the 'Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive, the vertically slidable window panel I! is operated inthis instance by means of a three-arm cross-arm 'window regulator generally similar to the regulator disclosed in the embodiment of Fig. 1. This regulator and BI pivotally connectedtogether at 82 at the locality of their crossing. The inner end ofthe arm carries a stud slidable in a horizontal guide slot 83 in the inner door panel 84. The inner end of the arm 8| is adjustably pivoted at 85 to the inner door panel. The outer endof the arm 81 ,,carries a stud 86 slidable in a guide slot 81 in a bracket" secured to the bottom of the channel member iii; The outer end of the cross arm 80 carries. asimilar stud 89 connected to a bracket 90 through the medium of a short horizontal slot9l formed in thebracket. The bracket 90 is secured, as by means of spot vwelding, to the bottom of, the glass retainer channel IS. The dividing bar I 30, securedto the forward vertical edge oilthewindowpanel l2 and which corresponds to'the bar l3 of the embodiment of Fig. 1, is secured to an embossed portion of the a bracket 90 asillustrate'd inF ig. l1. 1 The cross arms 80 and 8] are swung in opposite directions through the medium of a third driving and 92 having at its outer, end a slot 93 connectedlto afi stud 94 secured to the outer end of the cross'arr'n;

The swinging a nnj92' is fixed at its inner 80. end to a gear 95 driven.

through the medium of suitable gearing from the usualhandl'e'shaft Mounted within the window wellbeyond the opposite vertical edgesof the window panel I! shank 55, these strips having spring end portions are a pair of vertical channel guides, which are preferably identical in construction and fizxedf window well through the medium of 1 a within the suitable'brackets, as 'illustratedjin Fig."l1, each channel guide 96' has parallel" sides 96 formed. with constrictedcurved, neck portions 96b which terminate in outwardly flaringcurved flange 960. The, transver el curved portions att nd-,

63 cooperating with 990 form parallel tracking portions adapted to be engaged by compression guide devices or shoes 91. In the present embodiment the bracket 90 carries a pair of vertically spaced guide shoes or devices 91 and at the opposite end of the window panel l2 there is provided a bracket 99 which carries a single guide shoe ordevice 91 adapted to slide along the spaced parallel tracking edges of the adjacent channel guide 96. Each guide device or shoe 9'! is in the form of a cup-shaped member provided with transversely curved and outwardly flaring portions 91a contacting the adjacent curved tracking portions 99b of the channel guide. Each guide device 91 is slidable upon a stud 99 riveted at its inner end to a flange portion of the bracket 90 or a flange portion of the bracket 99 as the case may be. Each stud 99 terminates at its outer end in a head 99a providing a stop to limit outward movement of the shoe on the stud. Interposed between each shoe 91 and the flange of the bracket 90 or 98 is a compression spring I00. These springs are preferably placed under compression when the window panel is installed, as illustrated in Fig. 11, and at all times tend to urge the guide devices or shoes 91 outwardly against their respective channel guides 96.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 10 the opposite vertical edges of the window panel I! travel upwardly and downwardly between the channel guides 96 and entirely free of these guides so that the entire guiding of the window panel within the well is obtained through the medium of the guide devices 91 travelling along the parallel edges of the vertical channel guides 96. If desired the rear vertical edge of the win'-' dow panel I2 may be arranged to travel through the channel guide but free of engagement therewith in any adjusted position of the panel, Such strictedportions 96b of the channel guide but free of frictional contact therewith.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Fig.

14, the guide device or shoe therein illustrated may be substituted for the construction illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. Secured, as byriveting, to thebracket 98 or 90 is a stud IOI terminating in a head I02. Mounted upon the stud is a resilient sleeve I03 which may be formed of rubber or other cushion material. slidable upon this sleeve is a cylindrical shoe I04 provided with an integral outwardly flared and curved washer portion I05 adapted to engage the adjacent curved tracking portions 961), 960 of the channel guide 96. Interposed between the washer portion I05 and the flange of the bracket 90 or .99 is a compression spring I06 which is preferably maintained under compression at all times when the window panel is in installed position. The operation of the window panel utilizing guide devices I04, I05 is similar to that described in'connection with the embodiment of Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive. I claim: 1. In a vehicle body having a window opening, a vertically slidable closure panel for the window opening, a well located below the closure panel for receiving the latter'when it is lowered from the position thereof in the window opening, a pair of vertically extending guide members located in the well with one member positioned adjacent one vertical edge of the closure and with the other member positioned adjacent the opposite vertical edge of the closure, said guide members being free aavaea'r from frictional contact with the closure panel in all positions of the latter and having inwardly opening longitudinally extending recesses provided with transversely curved guiding surfaces, a pair of shoes respectively carriedby the closure in positions adjacent the guide members and having transversely curved portions of relatively small area respectively extending into the recesses in the guide members to cooperate with the latter tical movement, I

2. In a vehicle body having a window opening, a vertically slidable closure panel for the window in guiding the closure panel throughout its veropening, a well located below the closure, panel bracket secured to the bottom edge of the closure and having a depending extension, a shoe'mounted on the extension and having a relatively small area slidably engageable with the adjacent guide member, a second shoe also carried by the closure and having a relatively small area engageable with the other guide member, and window regulator mechanism having an operating. arm connected to said bracket.

3. In a vehicle body having a window opening, a vertically slidable closure panel for the window opening, a well located below the closure panel for receiving the latter when it is lowered from the position thereof in the window opening, a pair of vertically extending guide members located in said well with one member positioned adjacent one vertical edge of the closure and with the other I member positioned adjacent the opposite vertical edge of the closure, the locations of the guide members relative to the closure being such that the guide members are free from frictional contact with the closure in all positions thereof, a bracket secured to the bottom edge of the closure and having a depending extension, a shoe mounted on the depending extension of the bracket for sliding movement toward and away from one of the guide members, a second shoe also carried by the closure panel for sliding movement toward and away from the other guide member, yieldable means normally urging the shoes into engagement with their respective guide members, and window regulator mechanism having an operating arm slidably connected to said bracket;

4. .In a vehicle body having a window opening, a vertically slidable closure panel for'the window opening, a well located below the closure panel for receiving the latter when it is lowered from the position thereof in the window opening. a pair of vertically extending guide members located in said well with one member positioned adjacent one vertical edge of the closure and with the other member positioned adjacent the opposite vertical edge of the closure, said guide members being free from frictional contact with the adjacent side edges of the closure in all positions oi the latter and a pair of shoes respectively carried by the closure at opposite side edges of the latter in positions adjacent the guides and having a relatively small area slidably engageable with the guide members.

5. In a vehicle body having a window opening.

a vertically slidable closure panel for the window opening, a well located below the closure panel for receiving the latter when it is lowered from the position thereof in the window opening, a pair of vertically extending guide members located in said well with one member positioned adjacent one vertical edge of the closure and with the other member positioned adjacent the opposite vertical edge of the closure, the locations of the guide members relative to the side edges of the closure being such that the guide members are free from frictional contact with the side edges of the closure in all positions of the latter, and a pair of shoes spaced below the bottom edge of the closure and carried by the latter in positions adjacent the guide members and having a relatively small area slidably engageable with the guide members.

JOHN H. ROETHEL. 

